Forgiveness and reconciliation are two different things. We are to forgive whether or not the person that hurt us repents or doesn’t repent. We forgive because that’s who we are - love children of the love God and we choose to forget and not keep referencing it. We pray for them

However, for there to be reconciliation, there has to be repentance on the part of the person that offended us. And sometimes both parties need to repent and ask for each other’s forgiveness, or a mutual understanding arrived at. Sometimes offenses are not real but perceived.

You can’t force a relationship to continue. It’s really the best thing if there isn’t only forgiveness but also genuine repentance on the part of the offender and sometimes on both sides. Then there can be a real reconciliation and complete restoration of the relationship.

For instance, God remitted and washed away our sins 2,000 years ago in Christ. However, for us to get in relationship with Him, we need to repent and accept the reconciliation that God offers. If a person doesn’t, even though God loves the person, the person has rejected the love